How to Grow Chia Seeds

Report This Article

How to Grow Chia Seeds

Use chia seeds in place of flax seeds in recipes.image by Gabriela Ruellan: sxc.hu

Overview

Chia, or Salvia Hispanica, is a mucilaginous seed that is grown for its healthy edible sprouts. Mucilaginous seeds form a slippery gel coating when wet thoroughly that supplies all the nutrients they need to grow. Plant them successfully on any moisture holding surface, such as burlap sacks or special sprouting mats called baby blankets. Chia kits are available and include special clay forms to start the seeds on. Simple to grow, adding chia to your edible indoor garden is an easy process.

Step 1

Choose your growing medium, whether it is a clay form, grow mat or burlap sack. Lay the growing medium in a cookie sheet or empty tray and moisten thoroughly with water.

Step 2

Spread the chia seeds onto the growing medium. Spread them evenly and attempt to have no seeds touching each other.

Step 3

Cover the seeds with a second tray or lay plastic wrap loosely on top to help hold in moisture. Chia prefer a warm, dimly lit and humid environment to sprout in.

Step 4

Mist the growing medium with water every 1 to 2 days. Keep it moist, but not soaking wet.

Step 5

Remove the tray cover or plastic wrap once seeds sprout in 3 to 5 days. Move chia sprouts to a betterl lit area, such as a sunny window or a brightly lit room. Keep the growing medium moist.

Step 6

Harvest chia sprouts once the leaves are green and fully open. Cut the sprouts off along the stems just above the growing medium surface.

Tips and Warnings

Avoid getting seedling leaves too wet. Always water from the side of the growing medium or by misting lightly.

Things You'll Need

Growing medium

Trays

Plastic wrap

Spray bottle

References

Carolina Pet Supply

The Sprout People

Keywords:
growing chia, salvia hispanica, edible sprouts

About this Author

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.